Manukau Health Park

Redevelopment making solid progress

Designed to cater for future population growth, the $316 million Manukau Health Park redevelopment and GROW Manukau initiative is the largest local capital and infrastructure project for the region in recent years.

By the end of this year, new East, West and North Building structures will be well underway and existing hospital façade replacement works will have commenced. The entire project is due to be completed by 2026

Throughout the construction phase, continuity of services and minimising patient and staff disruption will be a key priority. The contractor and project team are working closely with all departments to prevent any impacts on services and service delivery.

Built Environs is leading construction of the Manukau Health Park redevelopment and, in conjunction with Te Whatu Ora, has developed a broader outcomes strategic framework that targets local first engagement and supplier diversity. Local products will be used wherever possible. The strategy also targets workforce training and development, apprenticeships and cadetships.

Driving the project is a long term commitment towards ensuring quality care, world-class technology and equipment across multiple specialist services and equitable patient access to healthcare for south and southeast Auckland. By enabling increased capacity, expanding service offerings and easing access, it will also go a long way towards relieving pressure on Middlemore Hospital.

That’s because it’s expected that more than 3600 additional surgeries a year will be carried out at the new Manukau Health Park facility from 2026, plus it will enable almost 150,000 additional outpatient appointments to be scheduled each year.

Key features of the redevelopment include a new radiology services building, a new outpatient renal care centre, new breast care and screening services, a standalone theatre block with four new theatres and expanded ophthalmology and women’s health services. Also earmarked for improvement are telehealth services and community outreach. Facilities will include culturally appropriate spaces to support patients and whānau.

Once completed, the new facility will generate hundreds of ongoing healthcare jobs with part of the recruitment programme involving targeted education and employment from within the local communities of Counties Manukau. Te Whatu Ora is working closely with Mana Whenua and local community and Pasifika organisations to assess employment opportunities for local Māori, Pacific people and young people within the area.

Recruitment for current vacancies is underway across Manukau Health Park and Middlemore Hospital, with a more intensive campaign starting later this year at a local, national and international level for radiology, ophthalmology, cardiology and other health services that will be offered at the completed Manukau Health Park.

Author Credit: Kim Newth.